Talking-machine



F. L. DYER.

TALKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC-29, l9l6.

1,326,920, Wed Jan. 6,1920.

Winesse FRANK L, DYER, or monrcnnm, m'w denser.

TALKING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 29, 1918. Serial No. 189,476.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. DYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montclair, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in Talking lviach nes, of which the following is a speclfication.

My invention relates to various new and useful im rovements in talking machines, and my 0 ject is to provide a talking machine in the form of a table or stand lamp whereby its identity will be concealed, without detracting from its efiiciency as a reproducer of sound. The effect produced is that of a reasonably large electric lamp having a substantial base and a suitably ornamented translucent or semitransparent shade.

With my improved phonograph the stand-' ard of the lamp comprises the horn, or amplifier, or at least a portion of the .same, and the horn or amplifier opens into the base of the lamp, the walls of which are suitably perforated to allow the sounds to escape. The perforations are preferably in the form of some ornamental open work pattern -or design so as to make the lamp artistically attractive. If desired the lamp may be provided with supporting feet so as to provide a space between the base and the table upon which the lamp is supported, and when these supporting feet are used the base may be open at the bottom so that the sounds may come out through the space between the base and the table. When thelatter expedient is adopted the perforations in the walls of the base may be omitted, or both suggestions may be used, that is to say, the sounds from the horn or amplifier may reach the auditor through the perforations in the walls of the base and through the space between the base and the table.

If it is desired to deflect the sounds from the horn or amplifier in any particular direction, a deflector may be used connected with the horn or amplifier and mounted' within the base so as to deflect the sounds toward any desired point, and this deflector when used may be adjustable so as to vary the direction in which the sound will be deflected.

The upper part of the lamp is provided with a suitably ornamented shade made of some translucent or semitransparent material, such as silk, paper, or glass, and the lamp is illuminated with one or more electric lights supported within the shade. The

upper part of the shade incloses a chamber Patented Jan. 6,1920.

mences to play. The turn-table is operated in any suitable way, such as by a spring motor or electric motor.

The whole device constitutes an ornamental lamp which can be varied in its make-up, proportion and design, as may be required.

In order that the invention may be'better understood attention is directed to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 shows a I vertical sectional view of a talking machine illustrating my present improvements in a very simple way, no attempt being made to illustrate artistic details, but only the barest outline of its mechanical construction.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view looking downward, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

In both of the views corresponding parts are represented with the same numerals.

The base 1, made preferably of metal, is given sufficient diameter to provide for a solid support for the talking machine without the same being top heavy. I illustrate this base as being supported by feet 2, so that a space is provided between the base and the support 3, on which the machine is carried. The walls of the base are shown as perforated at 4, to permit the sounds to pass out. I show these as ordinary rectangular perforations, but it will of course be understood that they may be formed in any suitable design' or pattern so as to improve the artistic effect. Extending up from the base is a standard 5 which constitutes the main portion of the horn oramplifier, having a curved upper end 6, located within the shade 7. Near the upper part of the shade 7 is a base 8, which carries the motor 9. I illustrate a spring motor 9, but obviously an electric motor may be employed and for many i urposes an electric motor is preferable. he motor operates the turntable 10, on which is placed the record 11, which cooperates with the needle 12 of the sound box 13, which latter is connected to a tone arm 14 pivoted at its rear end upon the curved extension 6 of the horn or amplifier, so

that the needle may progress radially across 15, pivoted at 16, which lid or. cover maybe raised so as to disclose the turntable and permit the record to be changed. The shade 7 is of any suitable character, but is preferably made as artistic as taste may desire.

It is usually formed of some semitransparent ortranslucent material such as silk,

paper, or glass, and may be illuminated byone or more electric lights 16, supported from the base 8 within the shade. If it is desired to deflect the sounds in any particu-, lar direction I may make use of a deflector 17 connected to the lower end of the horn or amplifier 5, and located within the base, This deflector may be adjustably mountedon a vertical shaft 18, mountedin the bear- I ings 19, 19, and adjusted by a lever 20 work ing in a slot 21 in the wall of the horn or amplifier. The lever 20 when used carries a ring 22 which incloses the slot so as to prevent any escape of sounds therethrough.-

The drawing to which reference has been made makes no. pretense of showing more than an outline'of the mechanical construca -tion of my improved talking machine. To

illustrate artistic details would serve no useful purpose, but it will, of course, be understood that in the ornamentation of the base 1 and the shade 7, and in the variation of proportions of the parts, the opportunities for artistic development are very considerable, and that it becomes in this way possible to produce an effective and handy talking machine that will give good acoustic results, while at the same time presenting the appearance of an attractive and useful article of furniture.

Having now described my invention,

-what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by'Letters Patent, is as follows 1. A talking machine in the form of a.

lamp, the record and sound box being carried within the lamp shade and the horn openinginto the base of the lamp, substantially as'and' for the purposes set forth.

2. A talking machine in the form of a lamp, the record and sound box being carried within the lamp shade, and the tapering standard constituting a horn or amplifier which opens into and delivers sound within the base, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a talking machine-,the comblnatlon with a base and tapering standard supported thereby and constituting a, horn or amplifier, a lamp shade carried by the standard and a turntable and sound box located within the lamp shade above the horn or amplifier, substantially as and 'for the purposes set forth. r f

4. In a talking machine, the combination with a base having perforated walls, a tapering standard extending upwardly from the base and constituting a horn or. amplifier, a support carried by the standard, a motor below the support and a turntable above the same, a sound box and a tone arm, and a lam shade carried by the support and concealmg within the shade the motor, turntable, sound'box, and tone arm, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5 In a talking machine, the combination with; a base having a perforated wall, a tapering support extending upward from the base and forming a horn or am lifier, a curved tapering extension for sai horn or amplifier, a support carried by said extension, a motor on the support, aturntable above the support rotated by the motor, a sound box and tone arm cooperating with the' turntable, and a lamp shade carried by the support and provided with a hinged portion constituting a cover, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a talking machine, the combination with a base having a perforated wall, a tapering support extending upward from the base and forming a horn or amplifier, a deflector within the base connected with the tapering support, a lamp shade carried by the support, a record carrier and sound reproducing means cooperatingtherewith and connected with the other end of the support, and located within the lamp shade,

substantially as and for the purposes set and rotatably mounted with respect to the same, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

-This specification signed and witnessed this twenty-eighth day of December, 1916.

FRANK L. DYER. Wnznesses:

A. E. BENTON, J. G. MCDERMOTT. 

